xavdid's recent activity
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Comment on What "one-hit wonder" do you think has a discography worth exploring? in ~music
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Comment on What is a business/org that is great and ethical in so many aspects that everyone should consider using? in ~life
xavdid Link ParentIt's not too hard to bind mp3 files into an m4b. Should you have to do it yourself? No, it would be better if they did. But it's pretty manageable. There's a great (but apparently now abandoned?)...It's not too hard to bind mp3 files into an m4b. Should you have to do it yourself? No, it would be better if they did. But it's pretty manageable.
There's a great (but apparently now abandoned?) app called Audiobook Binder: https://github.com/gonzoua/AudioBookBinder
I've still got it on my computer and it works great. There's also a well-reviewed paid alternative to it, Audiobook Builder.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
xavdid LinkFinally got around to seeing Thunderbolts* now that it's on streaming. I liked it! Felt like a return to Marvel form. Polished, but written coherently. It was a little crowded and the new...Finally got around to seeing Thunderbolts* now that it's on streaming. I liked it! Felt like a return to Marvel form. Polished, but written coherently. It was a little crowded and the new character was a little underdeveloped as a result, but it was a good time (again, finally). So that's nice!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
xavdid Link ParentWorth noting that there's not a narrator in the game. It's pretty British-coded, but all dialogue is just text. Past that, lots of fun. Enjoy!Worth noting that there's not a narrator in the game. It's pretty British-coded, but all dialogue is just text.
Past that, lots of fun. Enjoy!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
xavdid LinkI just finished Wilmot Works it Out after starting it earlier this year. It's small and relaxing and delightful. Its jigsaws are that are just tricky enough to keep you engaged but not so hard...I just finished Wilmot Works it Out after starting it earlier this year. It's small and relaxing and delightful. Its jigsaws are that are just tricky enough to keep you engaged but not so hard that you're ever stuck. Full review is on my site.
Besides that, I've been getting back into Dragon Quest XI, which I also started earlier this year and had shelved. It's pretty easy overall (I don't lose many battles) and heavy on JRPG comfort food. Nice to just put a podcast in and run around a bit, battling enemies. Just wish they had included a second overworld and / or battle theme. But hey, that's what the podcasts are for.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
xavdid Link ParentDS is such a fascinating game. The concept of the story -- playing a delivery man helping to connect the world -- always resonated with me. Doubly so since I played it at the start of covid...DS is such a fascinating game. The concept of the story -- playing a delivery man helping to connect the world -- always resonated with me. Doubly so since I played it at the start of covid lockdowns, which really helped it hit hard. But the rest of the writing is just such a mess. Doofy character names that have sailed past tongue-in-cheek and straight to "no, just actually dumb". The narrative itself was the same, putting the "high" in "high concept".
But despite all of that, I still find myself thinking about it sometimes. The gameplay was slow, but meditiative. The environments were sort of empty, but stark and beautiful in their own way. I really liked building infrastructure to make future deliveries better (especially with one of the late game structures). My biggest complaint was that all of the non-delivery gameplay (boss fights, ghosts, bandits, etc) was terribly underwhelming. There wasn't too much of that though, so I did ok.
But, not everyone enjoys every game. If you're not finding it enjoyable, play something you do like! Life's too short to spend hobby time on a thing you're having to push through.
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
xavdid LinkThe 8-Bit Big Band does well-arranged covers of videogame music. They're really talented musicians! They've got a new album out called Orchestrator Emulator and it's got a great energy. The Super...The 8-Bit Big Band does well-arranged covers of videogame music. They're really talented musicians!
They've got a new album out called Orchestrator Emulator and it's got a great energy. The Super Mario Praise Break is one of my favorites, but there aren't really any bad tracks in the bunch.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
xavdid LinkI've been playing a review copy of the basically-a-Zachtronics game Kaizen: A Factory Story! It's been great so far. The puzzle/programming gameplay is great (as expected) and it's got all the...I've been playing a review copy of the basically-a-Zachtronics game Kaizen: A Factory Story! It's been great so far. The puzzle/programming gameplay is great (as expected) and it's got all the hallmarks of the series (histograms, solitaire, story elements, etc). I was especially impressed by the theme, which places the game very squarely in 1980s Japan. It's been a pretty relaxing way to end my day!
As always, you can read the full review on my site: https://david.reviews/articles/kaizen-review/
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Comment on I deleted my second brain in ~tech
xavdid LinkFor me, the act of writing is the useful part. It helps me organize and verbalize my thoughts. So even if I never referenced my notes (I do), they'd still have been useful. In practice, in use...For me, the act of writing is the useful part. It helps me organize and verbalize my thoughts. So even if I never referenced my notes (I do), they'd still have been useful.
In practice, in use Obsidian as a personal knowledge cache. When I want I know something, if it's something I've put in a note, it'll probably be close to the exact thing I want. If not, I'll do a web search and write the note for next time.
If you're turning notetaking into the activity itself, then deleting them all makes sense. But otherwise you're losing a lot of (hopefully) good reference material. In an age of increasingly tenuous access to accurate information, I need my notes more than ever.
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 26 - July 10) in ~games
xavdid Link ParentI haven't played Ruined King yet (soon, hopefully!) but my understanding is that it's separate enough to be enjoyable. The characters are all from LoL, but they're introduced to you in the game...I haven't played Ruined King yet (soon, hopefully!) but my understanding is that it's separate enough to be enjoyable. The characters are all from LoL, but they're introduced to you in the game like any brand new character would be. So there may be references you don't catch, but it's intended to be a standalone experience (with gameplay very similar to Battle Chasers)
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: June/July 2025 in ~games
xavdid Link ParentHere in the US we mostly have the American Crow (duh) but there are corvids across most of the world! So unless you're in Chile or Argentina, you've probably got one kind or another!Here in the US we mostly have the American Crow (duh) but there are corvids across most of the world! So unless you're in Chile or Argentina, you've probably got one kind or another!
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: June/July 2025 in ~games
xavdid Link ParentThanks for this awesome list! I'm interested in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. I'd also take the Wargroove key if no one (including you) wants it. I've played the game already but only own it for Switch (a...Thanks for this awesome list! I'm interested in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. I'd also take the Wargroove key if no one (including you) wants it. I've played the game already but only own it for Switch (a system I probably won't keep forever). So a steam key would be cool in case I want to revisit it. But absolutely no hard feelings if you want to save it for someone who'll actually play and enjoy it for the first time. :)
I'm not sure I have a favorite animal, but I've always had a soft spot for standard poodles. They're energetic, but they're good dogs. Clever as heck, too.
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: June/July 2025 in ~games
xavdid Link ParentI'm interested in "A Guidebook of Babel"! Here's a fun animal fact: crows can recognize human faces and will hold grudges if you're mean to them. But on the other side, if you're kind and feed...I'm interested in "A Guidebook of Babel"!
Here's a fun animal fact: crows can recognize human faces and will hold grudges if you're mean to them. But on the other side, if you're kind and feed them and stuff, they'll remember you and may bring you little trinkets! More broadly, corvids are way smarter than we realized. Pretty wild!
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Comment on Tildes Game Giveaway: June/July 2025 in ~games
xavdid Link ParentLooks like there's one spot left, so I'll grab Ringo the Beetle! 🪲. He's a valued member of a musical act and has written a song about Oliver the Octopus. Thanks as always!Looks like there's one spot left, so I'll grab Ringo the Beetle! 🪲. He's a valued member of a musical act and has written a song about Oliver the Octopus.
Thanks as always!
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 26 - July 10) in ~games
xavdid Link ParentAwesome, enjoy! It's such a breath of fresh air. There's a sequel coming too!Awesome, enjoy! It's such a breath of fresh air. There's a sequel coming too!
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 26 - July 10) in ~games
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 26 - July 10) in ~games
xavdid (edited )Link ParentI really appreciate the kind words! Concise, clean, and focused on the core of each game is exactly what I'm going for. And it does make me sad when I review a game badly. 😅 I know how much work...I really appreciate the kind words! Concise, clean, and focused on the core of each game is exactly what I'm going for. And it does make me sad when I review a game badly. 😅 I know how much work and time and care go into them, but I also feel like I need to be honest when I don't find a game fun. But I also get to choose what I review and I mostly play things I think I'll like, so scores definitely lean higher.
I really love that you do so much for positivity on Tildes. You're responsible for a bunch of great threads including a bunch of great deals-related ones and of course, the game swap one from the holidays. It really makes the site feel home-y.
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Comment on The 2025 Steam Summer Sale is live (runs June 26 - July 10) in ~games
xavdid (edited )Link ParentThat's an awesome list, thanks for sharing! There are a few standouts I can personally vouch for, most of which have placed in my "games of the year" in the respective years I played them: Slay...- Exemplary
That's an awesome list, thanks for sharing!
There are a few standouts I can personally vouch for, most of which have placed in my "games of the year" in the respective years I played them:
- Slay the Spire, which popularized the deckbuilding roguelike genre, and deservedly so (though I've got many more hours & success than my site indicates)
- Furi, a bullet hell / rhythm game which is hard, but extremely satisfying
- Pony Island, a game from the developer of Inscryption. Has a funny little meta vibe that I particularly enjoyed
- Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales - another card game, but not roguelike. You build up a deck over time and play a lot of Gwent. I was especially impressed with how well they build narrative from gameplay elements.
- The Swapper, a classic "hidden gem". It's an atmospheric little puzzle game that works its mechanics well
- TOEM, an extremely charming little photo adventure. Punches way above its weight
- The Pedestrian, a wonderfully presented little puzzle game
- Nexomon: Extinction, which felt like what Pokemon would be like if they tried. Great for what it is.
- Pyre, which has actually grown on me since I've played it. It's from the devs of Hades which combines fantasy basketball and novel storytelling.
- And, though I haven't played it directly, Ruined King: A League of Legends Story looks great. I enjoyed the devs' earlier game (Battle Chasers: Nightwar) despite some small quibbles.
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Comment on Brick | Official trailer in ~movies
xavdid LinkI was confused and though they had remade Rian Johnson's 2005 neo-noir movie. Totally unrelated, it seems!I was confused and though they had remade Rian Johnson's 2005 neo-noir movie. Totally unrelated, it seems!
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
xavdid LinkInspired by their 10 year anniversary performance at the Tonys, I've been listening to the Hamilton soundtrack of all things. It's been a while; long enough that it's fun to revisit. It's always...Inspired by their 10 year anniversary performance at the Tonys, I've been listening to the Hamilton soundtrack of all things. It's been a while; long enough that it's fun to revisit.
It's always been great, but I sort of forgot how detailed the musicality is. There lots of little unexpected moves and instrumental winks and it's just a fun listen.
That first Eric Hutchinson album is such a classic! And thanks for reminding me about Hellogoodbye. I feel like I used to listed to a pile of their songs and just forgot about them across one of the service moves.